Day: June 17, 2016

A recent report published by Dr. Barak Ariel et al., and now posted on the BJA Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Toolkit website (https://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWC-Report.pdf), is already being used by some to question the efficacy of body-worn cameras and the need to implement a program. I urge everyone to read this report carefully especially the Discussion and Conclusions[…]

Ask yourself what your department would do if this happened? Was this the improper action of a poorly trained officer? Is this the culture of all patrol officers? Was it an honest mistake? Is department policy clear in this area? Regardless of the answer, departments must have a plan in place to address such shortcomings.[…]

This news report highlights the importance of developing sound tactics for the use of body-worn cameras. Officers should be trained to activate their cameras as soon as they are dispatched to a call or prior to officer initiated contacts. Officers should consider activating their cameras prior to their portable radios. Seldom does an officer begin a contact[…]